Organisations operating in the public and third sector face growing pressure: reduced funding, increasing demand, workforce fatigue, and the need to demonstrate measurable impact. At Performance Catalyst, we specialise in helping organisations navigate this complexity, strengthening leadership, improving performance, and delivering sustainable results through one to one executive coaching.
A powerful example of this transformation is our work with Magna Vitae, a charitable trust delivering leisure, cultural, and wellbeing services across Lincolnshire. You can see the full case study here:
After just one year of working with Performance Catalyst, Magna Vitae achieved measurable improvements across funding, service delivery, workforce engagement, and organisational clarity.
The Challenge: Growth, Funding Pressure, and Organisational Alignment
Before working with Performance Catalyst, Magna Vitae faced several common sector challenges:
- Pressure on service fees from its largest funding partner
- The need to expand community outreach with limited resources
- A growing workforce without a clearly defined, shared set of values
- The requirement to improve engagement, morale, and organisational cohesion post-Covid
Our approach focused on strategic alignment, leadership development, and performance culture, ensuring change was fully embedded within the organisation.
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships and Securing Long-Term Funding
One of the most significant outcomes of the partnership was the transformation of Magna Vitae’s relationship with its largest funding partner.
Results achieved:
- A significantly improved strategic relationship
- A new five-year business deal worth £6.5 million
- A complete reversal of previous trends of year-on-year service fee reductions
By supporting clearer strategic articulation, stronger governance conversations, and aligned leadership behaviours, Performance Catalyst helped Magna Vitae move from funding pressure to funding confidence.
Unlocking New Funding Streams for Community Impact
Performance Catalyst also supported Magna Vitae in clarifying its social value proposition and aligning it to funding opportunities.
As a result, Magna Vitae:
- Secured £175,000 per year in new funding
- Expanded outreach services into five additional local communities in East Lindsey
- Strengthened its role as a trusted delivery partner at a local level
This funding directly enabled greater community reach and long-term service sustainability.
Delivering More Impact With Fewer Resources
A key measure of organisational performance is not just growth, but efficient growth.
Despite operating with fewer staff resources, Magna Vitae:
- Reached more customers than before
- Enabled 1,850 children to learn to swim in one year, compared to 1,500 pre-Covid
Through improved performance management, clearer priorities, and workforce alignment, Magna Vitae was able to increase output without increasing pressure on teams.
Creating Values That Drive Strategy and Behaviour
A cornerstone of Performance Catalyst’s work is helping organisations define who they are, and how that translates into action.
Working collaboratively, Magna Vitae:
- Defined a clear set of organisational values
- Achieved company-wide buy-in and alignment
- Created a strong foundation for long-term business strategy
These values now provide structure, guide decision-making, and reinforce a consistent organisational culture through one to one executive coaching.
Strengthening Workforce Engagement and Morale
Organisational transformation only succeeds when people are engaged and motivated.
After one year:
- Workforce engagement and morale increased significantly
- Attendance at social events and workforce forums is strong
- Teams report greater clarity, trust, and connection to organisational purpose
To support this, Magna Vitae also introduced:
- Quarterly workforce surveys
- An impressive 90% completion rate, demonstrating trust and engagement
This data now enables informed leadership decisions and continuous improvement.
Why Performance Catalyst Delivers Sustainable Change
The Magna Vitae case study demonstrates what’s possible when organisations invest in strategic clarity, leadership capability, and performance culture in one to one executive coaching.
Performance Catalyst doesn’t deliver off-the-shelf solutions. We work alongside organisations to:
- Strengthen leadership and governance
- Improve funding relationships and commercial confidence
- Align values, strategy, and behaviour
- Build engaged, high-performing workforces
- Deliver measurable, sustainable outcomes
Ready to Transform Your Organisation?
If your organisation is facing funding pressure, growth challenges, or workforce disengagement, Performance Catalyst can help you move from complexity to clarity, and from ambition to impact. Check out our Bespoke Skills and Capabilities for Senior Leaders.
Read more about our work with Magna Vitae here